Razor blade magazine



Sept 23,/ 1952 E. J. GRAY 2,611,478

'RAZOR v BLADE MAGAZINE Filed' Nov. 19, 194e 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 38 aQg/mygrzy BY I A oRNEYs sept. @23, 1952 E. J. GRAY v 23115418.

RAZOR BLADE MAGAZINE Filed Nov. 19. 1948 2 smgTs-slm'r l2 INVEN-rR- l Edwardffamy A1TORN S atenteci Sept.

Gray executrix ceased of said Edward J. Gray, de-

V"Al'iplvication November 19W,1948,'SerialNo.'61,l)05l l This invention relates to razor blade magazines, more particularly to a magazine for dispensing conventional double edge'safety razor blades. j It is among the objects of my invention to provide a magazine for double edge, safetyj-razor blades 'that is neat, compact, light in weight and simple-*and inexpensive tomanufacture, having no movingparts that may jam or otherwise become `outof order, that may readily be filled in the factoryby mass production methods, or in the home by theuserwithout the need for special toolsor skilLand without danger of injury to the 1'ne1 s'o n,jt l 1at` retains a plurality of razor blades therein Without the use of special springs or clamps, andholds such blades firmly in place yet ensures `convenientand ready removal of only one blaole'atv atimewhendesired, Without danger of jamming thereofor of injury to the edge of lthe blade or the fingers of the user. Y

According to vafeature.- the stackiof safety razor blades is maintained bowed conditionwithin the magazine, to act at' all times as its own spring follower and by virtue of the resilience of the blades is at all times urged to proper registry for removal Vof the extreme -blade of the stack from the vbladedischarge outlet of the magazine. In a preferred embodiment the magazine is composed of abase and a coverf'which may be snapped'into closed position, the'i-base having an upstanding or-ffulcrumelmentas"an integral part thereof and areasY of theY cover depressing the ends of the blades'to'bend `the latter over said fulcrum element intofthedesired bowed relation.

"Ac'cordigto-another feature, the magazine is providedrwithstop means'coacting with the conventionalslots of theblades'to block against removal from the'magazne all the blades of the stack other-finan lthe extreme biadewhich inherentlyis flexed-to clear such stop, and further vstop meansis'provided to coact with only the extremev blade and 'block its-movement in direction away fromlts outlet,

"According Abr-.another ,feature 0f the, invention the blades* are'interleavedV in a' stack fromV the opposite end'softwhich the outer ends of alternate blades protrude. Ejector means are provided movable L longfitudinally with respect to ately in -opposite directions, with achstrokejto gage theinner end edge of the pmos't'remaining blade adjacent-,the rcenter of said fbas'eto-slid'such-"topmost blade from the discharge outlet toward which said ejector means is moved,*said ejector means while ladvancing suchftopmofst blade,` V riding 'on the top vsurface of thesecond blade from the-top, over and beyond 7 Claims. (Cl. 20G-16) the inner end edge of such second blade, and when moved in opposite direction engaging theinner end edge of such second blade to advance the latterfrom its associated discharge outlet, means being provided to urge the stack toward the ejector means so that the inner end edge of the topmost blade remaining in the magazine will alwaysv be in the path of the ejectormeans.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the various features above recited are employed in conjunction, that is, the interleaved stack is maintained in exed condition by` an Aappropriate upstanding portion or iulcrum onY the base and thecover of themagazine desirably constitutes the instrumentality for Vengaging and depressin the'ends of the respective blades. f

According to another feature, While the base when molded of plastic, may constitute an integral piece incorporating the upstanding or fulcrum portion as Well as the blade stopping portion, the base when made of sheet metal desirably incorporates outstruck tongues to serve as the fulcrum piece or pieces, has separate ystampings rising therefrom to serve as the blade stop means for all butA the topmost blade and the cover has outstruckmeans to serve as the stop for the topmost blade.

' In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various `possible embodiments of the Yseveral Yfeatures of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the assembled device with parts broken away, A 'Y Fig.. 2 is a bottom plan vView of the assembled device, i Fig. 3 is aiongnne 3-3 of Figi;

Fig 4 is a viewrsimilar to Fig. 3 taken along line'l4-'-4-oifFig..1. L!

` Fig. 5 is a 'sectional View taken along line 5-5 of Eig-3;A i

Fig.f6 isa transverse sectional view taken along line 6 6 of Fig. l, .Y Figq-i is'a fragmentary View` similar to Fig. 4 showing a blade being ejected, and,`

Fig'. 8 an exploded perspective view of the deviceA showing the parts thereof.

Referring now to-.the draWin'gs,as-is Aclearly shown in "FigL 8, the device de sirably comprises a housinghaving -a` base il, and 1a cover I'2. Theseparts are 'shown stamped from sheet lmetal although they mayfbe molded .from plastic.'

VThe base i I which includes'a subs'tantiallyrectangular! bottom V`plate l5 of `width'greater than that of aconventional .double edge safety razor bladehasupstanding me'ansthere'onA to serve as a longitudinal sectional View taken a fulcrum, which in the sheet metal embodiment shown may comprise a pair` of transversely aligned upstanding spring tongues I6, I1 and I6', I1' struck out therefrom on each side respectively of a line extending transversely across the center of the bottom plate I5, the width of each pair of spring tongues being less than the width of a conventional double edge safety razor blade. The pairs of 4spring tongues respectively extend upwardly from said bottom plate I5 at an acute angle thereto toward each end I8 and I9 thereof. As shown in Fig. 8, an opening 2I is formed in the bottom plate by the struckout spring tongues and a longitudinal slot 22 is provided in the bottom plate between the spring tongues of each of, said pairs.

Formed integrally with the bottom plate I5 along each of the side edges 23-and 24 thereof'is an upstanding wall 25 which has an inclined notch 26 at each corner thereof, respectively, extending downwardly toward the ends I8 and I9 of Ithebo'ttom plategsaid ends I8 and I9 each having'an inclinedlip'porti'on 21 integral there- With and extending upwardly therefrom, the center of each of said lip portions being slightly raised as at 28. The cover I2 which substantially conforms in shape to base I I comprisesa substantially rectangular top plate 4I 'substantially the same length as bottom plate I5 but slightly Wider than the latter. Plate 4I preferably has Va longitudinal central slot 42 therein in which is securely yet slidably positioned an ejector member or stud 43l'1eadedtat'lits top and bottom end as at 44-kand 45 respectively.v Preferably on Teach side of said slot, a pair of substantially rL-shaped openings 46 ,are formed, the corners 41 of each ofisaidopenings being bent downwardly to form a stop forthe razor blades in thernanner hereinafter described.

The topV plate V4I has a depending side Wall' 41.9 along each of the edges thereof. each of said walls desirably having an opening 5I centrally located therein, which when the cover is placed on the base with the side Walls 49 of the former straddling the side walls 25 of the latter, will coact with a' boss 52 on the side walls `,2.5 of thebase securely yet removably to retain the Cover thereon` i Each corner -of .vvalls A49 ofthe top plate 4I has an inclined notch 53 therein extending downwardly toward the ends 54am-1,55 respectively of the ctop plale 4I, the associated ;notchesr53, 26 vin the cover I2 and the base II being aligned .when the two are -joined as above described. "Each of the ends 54, 55 of the top plate4I has a down- Wardlyinclined lip portion 51 integral therewith, with the center of each of saidlipjportions being slightly depressed as at 58 and aligned4 with the raised portion 28 of lip 21, the Width oflsuch portions 28, 5B being vless thanthe Width of a conventional safety razor blade. Associated with `the base is an upstanding guide and stop. member which extends through the longitudinal slots in theblades and blocks outward movement of all but the extreme blade. I n the particularA sheet metalembodiment herein shownthe guide comprises a pair of razor jblade guidemembers I3, and I4 which are identical, each comprising a substantially rectangular plate 3I having .an'upstanding side wall or guide 32 along:l one), edge thereof-slightly less in length than the plate 3I and substantially equal to the longitudinal length of the opening2I formed in bottom plate I5 by the struckout tongues .into the opening 2I and snap over the edges 38 thereof, securely to retain the members I3 and I4 in place With their respective side walls orl guides 32 .in upright position.

4To load the magazine, a conventional double edged razor bladefEI as shown in Fig. 3 is positioned on springtongues I6 and I1 with end portion 62 of the blade positioned in notches 35.*of the guide and stop member I3, I4 and with the guides 32 extending through the longitudinal slot 63 in the blade 6I. in which, position th'erother-end-GI of the blade will extend toward the right beyond tongues I6', I1 and over inclined lip 21 of the base. Alsecond blade 65 is then positioned on tongues I6, I1 with end 66 -of the blade A,positioned in notches 36 andwith-the guides '32 extending through the longitudinal slot t3Y in suchblade, in which position the other end 68 of the blade will extend toward .tneleft beyond tongues I6, I1 and over.inclined flip,`21 at the other end vof baser.

This ,i stacking procedure ,is repeated. until l,the desired number Aof blades -are in themagazine in interleaved relation as shown vin Figs. 3,and4 with theouter end edges of 4valternate .blades protruding at .opposite ends .of thenstack.

'I he cover I2.isV thenpositioned over the .lbase I I so that the side Walls of the latter are straddled by lthe side Walls Aof the formenand the cover forced down until bosses 5 2 and -openings l,.iI coact to lock the cover on the Abase.

With the cover in place, the cutting edges of the blades will beretained by guide -and .stop I3, I4 spaced from the side walls 25, 49 yandthe depressed portion 58 of vtheflips at each end there of vwill press downen the outer ends-of the blades as shownfat 1I and 12 in'Fig. 3, therebyexerting tension-0n and depressing Such bladsand bending them over the associated-fulcrums, in the embodiment shown, the pairs of spring- .tongues I6, I11and I6', :I-1, which are `tijliereljiybentlownward and lact las resilient Vfulcrurns.v the other ends of the blades'inftheassociatednothes 3.5 and .36,;Wil1'be urged UPWMQS- ,HOWCYQI .the height of ,the sidewalls l32 of thejguide .members andthe depth of the notches '35,v and ,36 are such thataonly the end Y16 o f the topmost blade, A13. will more out QI 1101191) ,3.6 and wilmbutfagaret the .underiface @fue cover. therebyflsimitmsihe movement 0f the blades :and Segurely femmina them in place byreason of theirv rvirensel condi; tion caused by the bending thereof. Were the fulcruins rigid, it Would not be possible toen- Close asmanv blades?v in jailltiain0Iv elven height as .is possible with resilientful@19111118Such. as the spring tongues I6, I 1 andV -I6 I1. No matt?? W @any blds amsckdln the mag* @zingen t9 the Ylimit 0r its capaelty. 'they .will with such resilient fuleruim always 'be urged to- Ward the @ver I2 and hence there issurnce that the blades will `www .beiseurel' retained. inplace. I i f To remove a blade it is rneijely necessary to Slide, Stud. 43 t0 the` @ad af: slate? from thefno# Sitioe shown in ruil .lines 1114518.-

t9 th mit@ shown in' .dot anddas'h-'linesf `During the. :move-r:

ment of stud 43, the bottom 'head-.45 thereofwill' engagethe inner end edge 1li-of the1blade113 it will gradually straighten outandthe tension created by the bowing of such blade will also be reduced so that the end v'of "the" blade protruding from the outlet may be grasped by the fingersV of the user-and readily be pulled from such outlet.

No greatscare need Vbe exercised to keep'the blade from lateral deflection as it is manually withdrawn after it reaches the position shown in- Fig. v71-wh`ichV might cause-the cutting edges of the blade to rub against the walls of the base with resultant injury to the blade, since the cutting edges thereof would clear the casing at aligned notches 26, 53.

As the portions 28 and 58 are narrower than the width of a blade, they will not touch the cutting edges thereof as the latter is withdrawn from the magazine and hence will not dull the same.

It is to be noted that inasmuch as the ends of the blades beneath the topmost blade are in the associated notches 35, 36 as blade 13 is advanced the other blades will be restrained from longitudinal displacement and when the end 16 of blade 13 has moved past the end 80 ci the blade 8| immediately therebelow under the urging of stud 43, such end 80 by reason of the bowing of blade 8| will rise out of notch 35 until restrained by the underface of cover l2. To eject blade 8l the user then need merely move stud 43 in reverse direction and as the head 45 thereof engages end 8D of blade 8l it will move the latter from the outlet formed by lips and 51 at the other end of the housing in the manner previously described with respect to blade 13. By repeating this procedure, successive blades may alternately be removed from the outlets at the ends ofthe magazine. 'This is true even if the ejector head 45 were of thickness greater than the thickness of a blade since any excess thickness of such head 45 would simply correspondingly depress the stack beneath the topmost blade without any affect on the operation of the device.

As the head 45 of stud 43 will slide over the end of the blade in the stack immediately below blade 13, it can only abut against the end of the topmost blade and accordingly but one blade can be removed at a time with no danger of jamming.

If in initially loading the magazine, the stud 43 should be in the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, it would rst have to be moved to the right to the position shown in full lines, before the topmost blade 13 could be removed as heretofore set forth. As blade 13 will have the notched corners 13 of its rear end 1G against inturned corners 41 the blade cannot be moved longitudinally to the right by the frictional engagement of head 45 of stud 43 against the face of the topmost blade in the stack which might advance the topmost blade so that its rear end 16 extends beyond the extreme position of head 45 of .the stud,"therebyfpreventing the head' from-engaging .end 1.6 of the blade for `election thereof. r v.

While for all the foregoing reasons the interi leaved. arrangement is preferred,v it is however Within the scope of the invention from its broader aspect to .have the: blades vertically alignedf either bowed'or flat, and have the' ejection thereofA through one andthe same opening. In 'such case the ejector head.-45 must be no greater in'y thickness .than` theV `thickness `of a blade sothat itwould only engage the'end of one blade Aatf'a time.V This construction .is of course more deli'- cate andrequires moreiprecision than that o'f the embodiment illustratively shownherein.

The magazine z herein. described is light in weight', simple yto use' and as it may readily'be stamped yfrom 'sheet metal, is relatively ineX-' pensive land may be discarded after the lblades therein are exhausted Even with 4wet hands, a blade may readily be removed therefrom and the inconvenience and diiiiculty incurred in re"` movingthe wrapping from papercovered blades is dispensedwith. y

As manychanges could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claimsl it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a magazine for aV plurality oi stacked resilient safety razor blades of the type having a longitudinal slot therein, said magazine comprising a substantially rectangular base having an upwardly inclined lipat each end thereof, a pair of upstanding spring tongues struck out from said base on each side of the center line thereof, said base having a longitudinal slot extending between each of said pairs of spring tongues, upstanding guide means on said base positioned between said pair of spring tongues and extending through the longitudinal slot therebetween, and adapted to coact with the longitudinal slots in such blades to position the latter on said base in interleaved relation with the outer ends of alternate blades protruding from opposite ends of such stack, a substantially rectangular cover member having a downwardly inclined lip portion at each end thereof, means to aiiix said cover member to said base with the lip portions on said cover spaced from the lip portions on said base whereby when said magazine is loaded said lip portions on said cover will depress the associated ends of such blades to bow the latter over said spring tongues and raise the free ends of such blades against the mid portion of said cover member and ejector means movable longitudinally with respect to said cover member, alternately in opposite directions with each stroke, against the end of the topmost blade nearest the mid portion of said cover member to eject such topmost blade from between the spaced lip portions at the end of the magazine toward which said ejector means is moving.

2. The combination set forth in claiml in which the ejector means to slide such blades comprises a Vertical stud slidably positioned in a longitudinal slot in said cover, whereby when said'stud is moved longitudinally of said cover,

gamine y v of the. topmost. blade-ot subir stacklftimnvethe latter out of said magazine between the spared lipq'sortions"afa-the ends thereof;

The c'ornbnationfset: 'fotthszin :'ulnim lgin 5 whichy the lipyportionsfof fsaidv cover; echjms a.' depressed, `'portion .-.incthe ncenter.:therefofgzv and the lvli'p .zportonsfof said base-'eabhnhafsmin'mfsed portion 'in thefcententhereof aligned respectively'wlth the depressedmoxitionsunzsaidfeos/er.' 10

- :4.11 The l combination fset ffnrth inf; lfr rlaim.zll'ffn whlcmme'a'ns --areprovided ;one'said"-fcoverz.adja centz the s center :there'of f :to zfrblock" dongltudinal displacement? of. the topmostz .ramrsbladerfawny from .l-ts' outlet.

whiclrfsaid upstandin'geguide: meansv-mjnpses apair of. Lshaped membersseachfcomprisingla base. portion vhaving*` anrnpstanding .xzsrztll-r-.along notches -.n the' upper-.ledge fthereofvsaid" base.-l portion having means fthereonsecurely: .toaaflx zsaid; guide"` means to theL base*-.of-saidimagazinelwlth said upstandng walls parallel toxeachother.

6.The1acombinationEsettforthrinszclam.:1:.iin 25 .2.35.2113

which sad base hasm.upstemdingA walkandlsaid.

' .longitudinal edgesnthereoff-.andr means'fare prosaidzbaserwlls being aligned.

REFERENCES CITED 

